HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Spring Valley rising senior offensive lineman Riley Locklear has watched the recruiting process take off to the highest level over the last few months.
The 6-foot-6, 270-pound standout is one of several in-state players receiving top offers from around the country for the 2017 football recruiting class.
Locklear’s offer list, specifically, includes the likes of Cal, Florida State, Louisville, Marshall, Maryland, Miami (FL), Mississippi, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Oklahoma, Penn State, Pitt, Rutgers, South Carolina, Syracuse, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Virginia, Virginia Tech and West Virginia.
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“It’s been life changing and a dream for me to be recruited like this,” Locklear said. “It was kind of completely out of the blue, honestly. I expected to talk with Marshall and I was very excited to get that offer early on in my recruitment.”
But things especially escalated back in February when Florida State jumped into the mix and offered Locklear a scholarship, opening the floodgates of offers to immediately follow.
“I had visited Florida State in November or December before they offered,” Locklear said. “I got to talk with their offensive line coach, Coach Trickett, and he was pretty excited to have me that day.
“He had a little bit of a connection and friendship with my coaches,” Locklear continued. “He understood where I was coming from, he saw that I worked hard and he saw the type of talent that West Virginia brings. That offer caught me off guard and I was so excited – that was a big time for me.”
Locklear has also already visited with Auburn, Tennessee, Penn State, Virginia Tech and Vanderbilt, among others.
“I really like those schools, they have really nice facilities and really good academics,” he said. “I learn a lot of things when I go to every school. It’s good to be able to go out and represent West Virginia. I’ve always kind of wanted to move away for college, but the main thing that will impact my decision is academics, first and foremost.
“I want to pick a school that has the academics that I need – I want to become a physical therapist or athletic trainer,” he said. “For the athletic side of it, I want to pick a school that will make me better so that I could maybe have an option of the NFL.”
As for Locklear’s take on those in-state offers?
“I haven’t made any official rankings or anything,” Locklear said. “West Virginia has been contacting me and I’ve been talking with them recently. I feel like West Virginia and Marshall are going to be very close.”
The biggest advice, though, came from his brother, Alex, who plays for the Thundering Herd.
“My brother just says to enjoy it and take it slow – he told me that I’m in control of the process,” Locklear said. “Now that I can pick wherever I want to go, it’s up to me to pick a place that feels like home and has the academic and athletic goals that I’ve set for myself.”
Locklear hasn’t put a specific time frame on when he will make his commitment, but hopes to have a decision before the upcoming high school football season.
The complete Sportsline interview with Locklear is posted at the top of the page.